The Success of Pentecostalism
Examining a Movement Centered Around Controversial Spiritual Gifts
While speaking in tongues, miraculous powers, and healing were once considered a necessity by the early church as a means to spread the Gospel to individuals of other cultures and languages, the practices have been generally disregarded in the modern world as pre-modern and non-scientific. However, a growing movement of Pentecostalism is promising to give life to many of these forgotten gifts including prophecy, speaking in tongues, and casting out demons.
The Next Largest Christian Denomination
David Barrett along with other religious scholars predicts that Pentecostalism is the fastest growing of all modern religious movements. They predict that by 2025 up to 30% of all Christians could be Pentecostal (Athyal, 2009).
Pentecostalism in general is a religious movement that emphasizes a personal experience with God through a transformation of one’s life and the giving of gifts through the Holy Spirit. These gifts become the cornerstone of the Pentecostal belief of evangelism and support for the church.
Along with the giving of spiritual gifts, Pentecostals generally believe in baptism, the elimination of sin, a literal interpretation of the Bible, and a Calvinist approach to predestination and salvation.
A Modern Crusade with Evangelism
Due to their strong convictions regarding a literal interpretation of the Bible, Pentecostals are also strong believers in the necessity of evangelism. As Jesus called forth his disciples to go forth into all the world and spread the Gospel, Pentecostalism follow this same command. The emphasis on gaining and using spiritual gifts has given a new meaning to the word crusade.
The spread of Pentecostalism is not limited to Western nations as many following this faith have moved to "Pagan" countries to convert them to the side of Christ. The use of spiritual gifts is necessary in the spread of the Gospel to these foreign countries. Using the literal interpretation of Jesus' command, Pentecostal believe it necessary to actively evangelize to the third world.
Success Around the World
Pentecostals have made successful mass conversions through “vitriolic crusades against indigenous practices classed as paganism or idol worship” in African countries (Gore, 2008). Pentecostals have an advantage when replacing “idol worship” and “paganism” in indigenous cultures. The mysticism and transcendent nature of the spiritual gifts — especially those of discernment, casting out demons, speaking in tongues, healing and prophesy — provide for an easier conversion rate into Pentecostalism.
By returning the faith's focus to the actions of the early church and the mystical powers they possessed, Pentecostals have adapted Christianity in a way that is palatable to many indigenous cultures, thus improving their attempts at evangelism and conversion.
Enthusiasm in the Early Church
These gifts focus on the same enthusiasm of the early church. Tim Callahan, an award-winning Christian author, notes that when the Apostle Paul described those speaking in tongues, as caught up in the “third heaven,” Paul was really highlighting enthusiasmos (origin of enthusiasm), the state of “having a god in oneself.” (Callahan, 2009)
In the same periodical, Callahan argues that the Pentecostal movement is the closest thing to the early Christian church in the time of Paul due to their eager to receive and use gifts. Pentecostal churches rarely have quiet services. Church members are actively encouraged to call out, speak in tongues, interpret messages, and pray aloud in services. The energy of these services reflects the early church and their enthusiasm within the faith.
While some may criticize the Pentecostal movement as a step backwards for its emphasis on supernatural gifts, the movement will become the new driving force for modern Christian thought and should be evaluated and understood.
Today, most Christians will switch denominations at least once in their lifetime or leave the church altogether, turning away from their childhood religion. However, Pentecostalism was a movement derived from adults desperately seeking an enthusiastic faith, one that focused on the direct relationship between God and the believer. Thus, Pentecostalism may offer a new avenue to improve church member retention by meeting the needs of the Body of Christ at their most basic, spiritual level.
Pentecostal Movement Emphasizes Spiritual Gifts
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